Apollo's Eye : A Cartographic Genealogy of the Earth in the Western Imagination

Winner of the Association of American Publishers Professional and Scholarly Publishing Award in Geography & Earth Sciences "Earthbound humans are unable to embrace more than a tiny part of the planetary surface. But in their imagination they can grasp the whole of the earth, as a surface or a solid body, to locate it within infinities of space and to communicate and share images of it."—from the Preface Long before we had the ability to photograph the earth from space—to see our planet as it would be seen by the Greek god Apollo—images of the earth as a globe had captured popular imagination. In Apollo's Eye, geographer Denis Cosgrove examines the historical implications for the West of conceiving and representing the earth as a globe: a unified, spherical body. Cosgrove traces how ideas of globalism and globalization have shifted historically in relation to changing images of the earth, from antiquity to the Space Age. He connects the evolving image of a unified globe to politically powerful conceptions of human unity.

"Earthbound humans are unable to embrace more than a tiny part of the planetary surface. But in their imagination they can grasp the whole of the earth, as a surface or a solid body, to locate it within infinities of space and to communicate and share images of it."—from the Preface

Long before we had the ability to photograph the earth from space—to see our planet as it would be seen by the Greek god Apollo—images of the earth as a globe had captured popular imagination. In Apollo's Eye, geographer Denis Cosgrove examines the historical implications for the West of conceiving and representing the earth as a globe: a unified, spherical body. Cosgrove traces how ideas of globalism and globalization have shifted historically in relation to changing images of the earth, from antiquity to the Space Age. He connects the evolving image of a unified globe to politically powerful conceptions of human unity.

"Earthbound humans are unable to embrace more than a tiny part of the planetary surface. But in their imagination they can grasp the whole of the earth, as a surface or a solid body, to locate it within infinities of space and to communicate and share images of it." & mdash;from the Preface Long before we had the ability to photograph the earth from space & mdash;to see our planet as it would be seen by the Greek god Apollo & mdash;images of the earth as a globe had captured popular imagination. In Apollo's Eye, geographer Denis Cosgrove examines the historical implications for the West of conceiving and representing the earth as a globe: a unified, spherical body. Cosgrove traces how ideas of globalism and globalization have shifted historically in relation to changing images of the earth, from antiquity to the Space Age. He connects the evolving image of a unified globe to politically powerful conceptions of human unity In Apollo's Eye, Geographer Denis Cosgrove Examines The Historical Implications For The West Of Conceiving And Representing The Earth As A Globe: A Unified, Spherical Body. Cosgrove Traces How Ideas Of Globalism And Globalization Have Shifted Historically In Relation To Changing Images Of The Earth, From Antiquity To The Space Age. He Connects The Evolving Image Of A Unified Globe To Politically Powerful Conceptions Of Human Unity. Cosgrove's Analysis Traces A Pattern Of Associations Between Global Images And The Formation Of Western Identities, Paying Tribute To The Richly Complex Cosmographic Tradition Out Of Which Today's Geographical Imagination Has Emerged.--jacket. Imperial And Poetic Globe -- Classical Globe -- Christian Globe -- Oceanic Globe -- Visionary Globe -- Emblematic Globe -- Enlightened Globe -- Modern Globe -- Virtual Globe. Denis Cosgrove. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 269-317) And Index. This award-winning science history explores our evolving image of the globe—and how it has shifted our relationship to the world. Long before we had the ability to photograph the earth from space—to see our planet as it would be seen by the Greek god Apollo—images of the earth as a globe had captured popular imagination. In Apollo's Eye, geographer Denis Cosgrove examines the historical implications for the West of conceiving and representing the earth as a globe: a unified, spherical body. Cosgrove traces how ideas of globalism and globalization have shifted historically in relation to changing images of the earth, from antiquity to the Space Age. He connects the evolving image of a unified globe to politically powerful conceptions of human unity. Winner of the Association of American Publishers Professional and Scholarly Publishing Award in Geography & Earth Sciences "In Apollo's Eye, geographer Denis Cosgrove examines the historical implications for the West of conceiving and representing the earth as a globe: a unified, spherical body. Cosgrove traces how ideas of globalism and globalization have shifted historically in relation to changing images of the earth, from antiquity to the Space Age. He connects the evolving image of a unified globe to politically powerful conceptions of human unity.". "Cosgrove's analysis traces a pattern of associations between global images and the formation of Western identities, paying tribute to the richly complex cosmographic tradition out of which today's geographical imagination has emerged."--BOOK JACKET. "In Apollo's Eye, geographer Denis Cosgrove examines the historical implications for the West of conceiving and representing the earth as a globe: a unified, spherical body. Cosgrove traces how ideas of globalism and globalization have shifted historically in relation to changing images of the earth, from antiquity to the Space Age. He connects the evolving image of a unified globe to politically powerful conceptions of human unity." "Cosgrove's analysis traces a pattern of associations between global images and the formation of Western identities, paying tribute to the richly complex cosmographic tradition out of which today's geographical imagination has emerged." --Book Jacket CONTENTS......Page 9 PREFACE......Page 11 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 15 ONE Imperial and Poetic Globe......Page 19 TWO Classical Globe......Page 47 THREE Christian Globe......Page 72 FOUR Oceanic Globe......Page 97 FIVE Visionary Globe......Page 120 SIX Emblematic Globe......Page 157 SEVEN Enlightened Globe......Page 194 EIGHT Modern Globe......Page 223 NINE Virtual Globe......Page 253 NOTES......Page 287 INDEX......Page 337

Well written, copiously illustrated, and with an excellent section of notes at the end of each chapter, the author and publishers of this book are to be commended. - Geography

In Greek and Roman mythology Phoebus Apollo drives the sun's golden chariot above the terrestrial sphere, tracing the diurnal arc.